Case Study: SolarCity achieves energy-cost savings and grid optimization with FICO Xpress Optimization Suite

SolarCity Uses FICO® Xpress Optimization Suite to Optimize Distributed Energy Applications

SolarCity’s Grid Engineering Solutions team, a leader in distributed solar energy, faced the challenge of evaluating new business opportunities and maximizing the value of stored solar energy for customers and the grid. They needed to navigate highly variable utility tariffs, demand charges and operational constraints to determine when to charge or discharge batteries and how unused stored energy might be monetized or used to reduce grid stress.

Using the FICO Xpress Optimization Suite, SolarCity built optimization models (including mixed integer linear programs) to recommend optimal charge/discharge schedules, aggregate distributed storage for wholesale markets, and test scenarios with dynamic inputs. The tool delivered deeper operational insight, helped identify customer bill savings and potential revenue streams, and enabled strategies to ease peak grid demand by finding the best possible actions across large, complex data sets.

SolarCity

Seyed Madaeni

Principal of Grid Engineering Solutions